Children’s tale, The Worst Witch, to have stage debut

The Worst Witch, based on the popular children’s novel, will open in Northampton this Christmas before embarking on a nationwide tour.

Suitable for all Key Stages, the show is based on Jill Murphy’s series of children’s novels by the same name and has been adapted for the stage by Emma Reeves and directed by Theresa Heskins.

An all-female cast has been confirmed for the world premiere production of The Worst Witch which opens at the Royal & Derngate as part of the theatre’s ‘Made in Northampton’ season.

The show will run in Northampton from 27th November until 30th December before touring the UK in 2019.

Synopsis: The Worst Witch

The Worst Witch is the story of an ordinary girl who finds herself in an extraordinary place: a school for witches. Now in her final year, accident-prone Mildred Hubble and her fellow pupils leave a trail of mayhem behind them as they find themselves at the centre of a battle that’s being fought for their future.

The show features magic, puppetry, original music and ‘plenty of Mildred’s brand of utter pandemonium’. The production can be tied in with subjects such as English and Drama and can teach children about being themselves and controlling their own futures.

Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch stories have sold more than five million copies and been made into films and TV series by HBO, ITV and CBBC.

Jill commented: "My first trip to the theatre aged four, opened up a magical world… Imagine how proud I feel, all these years later, seeing my own Mildred Hubble on stage with all the characters from Miss Cackle's Academy.”

Emma Reeves added: “We’re creating a brand-new story as well as revisiting moments from the books.”

Selected tour dates

•Royal & Derngate, Northampton: 27th November - 30th December

•Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield: 29th January - 2nd February

•New Theatre, Hull: 12th - 16th February

•Dartford Orchard Theatre: 27th February - 3rd March

•Leicester Curve: 19th - 24th March

•Theatre Royal, Plymouth: 9th - 13th April

•Belgrade Theatre, Coventry: 24th - 27th April

•King's Theatre, Edinburgh: 7th - 12th May

•Birmingham Hippodrome: 22nd -26th May

•Liverpool Playhouse: 28th May - 1st June

More tour venues can be found online, with new dates expected to be added.

Teachers should contact their chosen theatres for details on school bookings.